To Know Him

February 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As it has been said, faith is a journey not a destination. So what does that mean? For me it is about making progress, every day. We learn, we pray, we live, we give thanks, we cry for help, we forgive others and we learn some more. We are human, we live in a broken and fallen world. Nobody is perfect, even if their social media profiles try to project it. We are not made to do this life alone. We need to know Him, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. He gave His life to save us and to reconcile us to God. Give faith a chance, spend time learning about Jesus Christ and His birth, His life, His teachings, His death and His resurrection. Pickup God’s Word and seek Him daily, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Amen.

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Everyone Has A Role

February 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The body of Christ is discussed in several areas of the Bible. It is compared to the makeup of the human body. Stating that every part of the body has certain contribution to the whole body and everything is functioning at its greatest ability when all the members play their role. A sports team could be described in a simialr way. If every member of the team does what they are responsible to do the team can be and will be very successful. The same is true for Christians. We all have a role in the body of Christ and even though some roles get taken for granted they have the same value as every other role. We never notice how much we use our pinky on either hand or our little toe on either foot until it gets broke or dislocated and suddenly we really notice how often we need it. We are created out of love, we are created for a purpose, every single person has value in God’s plan. Seek wisdom from God to understand your role is His plan. Amen.

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“Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us…”

Romans 12:4-6

(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Savior

February 1, 2019February 5, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

His mercy…His grace…His forgiveness…His sacrifice…His death…His resurrection and His love. All of this and more means Jesus Christ has fought the battle and won. He has saved us and we can be reconciled with God. Seek Him and the message of Good News in God’s Word. He gave His all to save you because He loves you just the way you are. May the love of Christ comfort you and encourage you this day. Amen.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

The Grace Of God

January 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have been saved…the battle has been won. Jesus Christ gave of Himself to save us and to reconcile us back to God. We are not made to do life alone, God our Creator made us out of His love and His Son sacrificed His life because of His love for us and the Holy Spirit is guiding us through our days with God’s love. We haven’t earned it, we don’t deserve it. It has occured because of the mercy and grace of God our Father. He is not a distant figure in the sky looking for ways to punish us for every mistake, He is doing everything for our good, not according to our plans rather according to His. We would do well to turn towards God and thank Him and seek to grow our relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through northern Colorado)

Battles Along The Way

January 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / 3 Comments

We read in the Bible about what this life will be like, it even has it in red letters for us to indicate that these are the words of Jesus…“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 Yet all of us attempt to get through things alone, at least the first time or several times for us slow learners. We are not alone on this journey…no matter who or what or how much trouble we are facing in this world nothing is to too big for God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Maybe in order for more humans to take note, life should come with a warning label…WARNING: Life will be difficult do not try this alone. Take time to seek Jesus, read about His life on earth, His teachings, His sacrifice, His victory. It is all available for you to read in God’s Word and God made sure you would have the opportunity to see it and to know Him. Peace to you on your journey. Amen.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

The Cross

January 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I offer to you today some praise and worship through music. Think about the things that keep you distracted, struggling and full of worry…bring those things to the only place where you can find healing and peace. The Cross.

The Cross Has The Final Word by The Newsboys

The Cross Has the Final Word

Newsboys

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
There’s nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up its strongest fight
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
Is Yours!

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
He traded death for eternal life
The cross has the final word (oh nothing higher)

Oh, the cross has the final word (nothing better)
The cross has the final word (all the power)
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

Songwriters: Cody Carnes

The Cross Has the Final Word lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Gift

January 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

We have been given the greatest gift ever…the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to it. He sacrificed His life in heaven to come down to earth and to be like one of us, He was beaten, tortured, spit on and crucified…then God did what only God can do…out of the worst of tragedies He brought about the most incredible joy. Jesus Christ is alive and He lives today. Don’t put off your relationship with Jesus, spend time with Him everyday, the Gift of Him is one that keeps on giving to you forever. Amen.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

His Sacrifice = Grace

January 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can have a personal relationship with our Creator. We are redeemed. We have been saved from wrath. The punishment we all deserve has been delivered onto Jesus Christ. We are forgiven. All of this has been completed because of the grace of God and His love for us. Jesus gave up everything and suffered the worst things this world can deliver…to save us. Let us give thanks to Jesus for His incredible sacrifice and let us live our lives in pursuit of the Fruits of the Spirit in our thoughts, our words and our actions. Amen.

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“For is is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is Love

December 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am reminded this morning of this statement. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and not on the pain, struggle and our self-serving desires, we are able to rise above those things carried by the love of God. If we allow the hurt and pain of the past to rule our present day then we are missing out on so many opportunities to know joy and peace, to be thankful for what is good. If we desire forgiveness for our sins, we need to be just as willing to forgive others. The sacrifice has already been made for us, the race is already been won, death is defeated and Christ lives. Let us turn towards God in prayer and thanksgiving for His everlasting love. Amen.

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“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:15-16

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

God Came Down

December 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The coming of Jesus Christ, to be born as a baby here on earth was miraculous for many reasons. The most difficult part to comprehend is that God, the Creator of the world, the beginning and the end of all things, loves us so much that He took the form of one of us, to save us from our sinful ways. When we read in the bible about the people of God in the Old Testament, it seems like the people and God go back and forth. The people are suffering, God does something to help them, win a battle, defeat an enemy, free them from slavery and the people are thankful and grow closer to God…and then time goes by and they wander off again. The cycle repeats itself several times…much like many of us in our faith journey. In the New Testament, God changes the cycle and does something that has changed the relationship we have with Him forever. God came down from heaven and became like us in order to reconcile us to Him…think about that for awhile…the Almighty God, Creator of all things came down from heaven to become one of us because He loves us. As we think about the past year and the year to come, I pray we reflect on God’s love and the amazing things He has done for us. Amen.

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